From the Dean
At midnight on December 31st, I, like most of you, breathed a sigh of relief: 2020 was history, and I looked forward to the clean slate of a new year and the opportunities it would bring. But less than a week into 2021, we witnessed the disruption of a process that traditionally has been routine. I feel compelled to acknowledge the frightening scenes of violence and lawlessness that we saw play out at the U.S. Capitol. Such actions, carried out at one of our country’s most sacred institutions, were deeply disturbing and have no place in our democratic society.
As an immigrant to this country, I have always seen America as the exemplar of all that is good in humanity. Despite what occurred, I truly believe that what unites us as Americans is greater than that which divides us. In that spirit, I encourage every member of the CECAS family to take to heart our University’s core values of honesty, integrity and respect in everything we do. I see it every day in the work of our students, staff and faculty, work that is made possible by the selfless generosity of you, our alumni and friends. These are challenging times, and I am confident that we will come together as a community to rise above the polarization that has dominated much of our recent national dialogue. Together we can learn from 2020 and make this year one filled with opportunities. I wish you and your loved ones all the best in 2021.
Best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous new year,
Anand K. Gramopadhye, Dean
